Classes the week of 10/24/11

Keegs pre-novice class 10/24/11-Keegs is doing really well and is beginning to listen to direction better.  If he does get ahead of me he is lost so just goes on his merry way.  His teeter is much better, he does still have some problems after going over it a couple of times. Weird you would think he would be tentative the first time he goes over instead of the 3rd time.  We also need to work on his entrance into weaves and work both sides of the weaves but he is still improving each time we work them.  I am very pleased at his progress, if he continues to improve as he has been I may try him in a CPE or NADAC next summer.

Kiah's novice class 10/26/11-She was in a mood the first time we walked out to the course, play bowed and scooted so I was pretty sure she would zoom and she did.  Told her down and front (after a big loop around the ring) and she did, woo hoo!  Great runs the rest of the night from her, a few handling issues that messed her up but other than that she was so good.  I just have to figure a way to get her not to zoom the first time out but still her up and happy.

I am excited, Kiah and I have 2-3 trials (wait listed on one trial) coming up in November and early December (our club's trial).  After that we are taking a break from trials until March of next year.  Never know what the weather is going to be like and most trials are 1-2 hours from me so not really up to driving in bad weather or losing my money.  If there is a NADAC or CPE I can get in the day of show we might fit one of those in.

Thursday practice at the club

Met Kay again at the club last night and we practiced on a jumpers course.  Forgot my camera again but both Kiah and Keegs did pretty well.  A little zoom from both of them then they settled down and did the courses pretty well.  The last run was really good for Kiah but didn't do the last run with Keegs as he was bored and not really happy on his last run.  I don't want to push him too hard, have him end up hating agility.

Kay showed me a few things in obedience that I can practice with Kiah and she worked with her for a while.  It was fun watching them; I am looking forward to practicing the things she showed us.

Fun Practice day, Sunday October 16, 2011

Went to the club early this morning for a practice with Kiah and Keegs; we met Kay and her Border Collie Jesse there.  A course was already setup and we just had to do a few modifications so it would flow a bit better for us.  Turned out to be a really fun course with a few places where they could have taken a wrong course to keep us on our toes.

Keegs did a bit of zooming but he is pretty easy to get back.  I think he improves a bit each time we go but I need to start doing more distance work with him.  I am trying to handle him like Kiah but I need to make some adjustments running him, just have to figure out what is best for him.  I forgot to bring my camera which I will bring the next time so I can see what I am doing when he misses an obstacle; Kay says he really watches me so it might be I am not following through until he is committed to an obstacle.

Kiah was awesome!  The start was towards the back of the course, so the first time I made her heal and walk with me to the start without a leash or collar, she stayed right with me.  Did a really good wait at the start line, made all the obstacles except the start of the weaves and that was my fault.  I had a hard time figuring out the best way to pull her from the jump to the weaves, once in she missed the last pole so we redid them and she did them all.  The second time we walked out to the start she was happy and bouncing all the way to the start line.  I can't tell you how happy that made me, I have seen her walk with her head down, so depressed you would think she was going to walk the plank or something.  I did better on pulling her from the jump to the weaves but told her to weave too late and she went in at the second pole; I finally got it right the last run so she hit her entrance and did all the weaves. 

I wish we had been able to get into the trial this weekend so now we will have to wait until November to trail (hope we get in this one).

Since we are on a break, Kay and I hope to get a training in one night this week.  I will bring my camera if we do.

Classes the week of 10/3/11

Keegan's Monday pre-novice class - It was a fun class and Keegs did well.  No zooms, did all the obstacles, pretty good contacts and much better weaves.  He is also doing much better on the teeter-totter.

We practiced being judges, scribes, and timers for each others runs.  It was fun and Keegs would have gotten a (pre-novice :-) ) Q if he hadn't knocked a bar on his last jump.  Comments were:  I have to run faster and not wait for him, he will follow me.  Have to keep that in mind with Kiah too.

Kiah's Wednesday night class - On the first run she started to zoom, I yelled "NO" and she came back but I could see by the look in her eye she was thinking about taking off again.  I got her attention and started running the course telling her OK, lets go and SURPRISE she actually came with me and finished the course.  The second run was awesome, she hit the weaves perfectly and was soooo fast.  No miscues and a perfect run, really fun run for both of us.  I am so glad I had turkey as a special treat for her doing so well.  We are still taking baby steps and seeing improvements but we are both having so much more fun!

We have a two week break before the next session but we have a run-through next week and some practices at the club before our next trial.  Really looking forward to the next trial on the 22nd and 23rd.